Exploration 5: Emilee Fraser

Watching this documentary opened my eyes to aspects of the Civil Rights Movement that I had never learned before. When I think of the Civil Rights era, I think of police brutality and an overall very violent time for people of African descent. The most prominent event that stands out to me is the fact that police would often use fire hoses to deter peaceful protests held by the African Americans. Through watching this documentary, however, I learned that violence was rarely, if ever, a part of the protestors' ideologies. Even when they were put in jail for their acts of protest, they maintained an optimistic outlook on their campaign and somehow managed to keep persevering. I had never, and still don’t completely, understand how they were so hopeful in a time of great despair. The documentary really showcased the type of people who were fighting for their rights during the 1950s and 1960s.

For my research portion, I looked at the effects of Stokely Carmichael and what he brought to the Civil Rights Movement. Carmichael was a major advocate for African American equality and worked with other memorable leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. Although, Unlike Martin Luther King Jr., Carmichael was unable to keep a nonviolent mindset and eventually joined groups such as the Black Power Movement and the Black Panther Party. He was arrested for a short time period after one protest, however this did not take away his influence as a Civil Rights Movement leader.

Carmichael eventually no longer relied on non-violent antics.
This quote represents a turning point in his ideology.